Real Estate for Real People
• November 28, 2012

Washington’s dynamic new brokerage company Real Living | At Home promises a one of a kind experience for those who looking to buy a house in the area. With its extensive use of social media, Real Living aims to strongly engage with its clients and give them an authentic idea of what living in DC is like.

The company hopes that these objectives will foster true connections with clients.

“If clients are going to work with Real Living, I want them to know exactly what kind of agents we have,” company CEO and founder Darrin Friedman said, “And we have fantastic agents who really understand what it means to connect with today’s consumer.”

Founded earlier this year, Real Living is a full service brokerage company. Where they dif- fer from other companies of the sort is with their commitment to community and engagement.

“For us culture is everything. Vision is every- thing,” Friedman explained, “Responsiveness, taking care of our clients is everything. And we work through social media, different flavors of social media engagement, and also something as simple as a letter. Every new client gets a letter. It says welcome to our family of clients, if you need anything this is how you reach us. It’s more than just an island with one agent. There’s no such thing as an island with us.”

Real Living specifically targets potential home buyers and sellers between the ages of 24-44. According to Friedman, 70% transactions in real estate involve someone in this age group. As a result, proper communication with this group is key.

“You must know how to communicate, you must know how to market to know how to reach that primary age group or you’re really going to be left behind,” Friedman said.

In today’s age of smart phones and ipads, Real Living has found social media to be an invaluable asset in their goal of connecting with consumers. The company has been using Facebook and Pintrest to engage with clients. Their Pintrest site highlights their favorite house fronts and interiors in D.C., and they held a contest via Facebook page that entailed guess- ing a picture of a D.C. streetfront that was taken twenty-five years ago with a Starbucks gift cer- tificate as a prize.

“I have not yet put up a listing on our Facebook page,” Friedman said, “That’s not the point, that’s not true engagement.”

“We do have big goals,” Friedman said, “But we also view our goals as quality…I’d much rather grow organically and with talent than quickly with herds of people that just fall out.”

The Auction BlockNovember 14, 2012
• November 14, 2012

**Weschler ?s**
*Bronze Eiffel Tower Clock*
**Auction Date: December 7**
**Estimate: $1,000 ? 2,000**

Washington D.C.?s only auction house, Weschler?s has been a local tradition for over 120 years. On December 7th they will host an auction of Miller-Topia Designers, a longtime gallery in Alexandria, Va., that is closing and auctioning off most of their assets, which include fine art, furniture, and exotic props and accessories from both movie and theatrical sets. This French bronze Eiffel Tower clock strikes a two-train movement that strikes a bell on the hour and half-hour, and stands 44 inches tall. To see the collection before it goes on auction, you can visit the gallery: 1120 N Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. www.Weschlers.com

**The Potomack Company**
*Antique Serapi Rug*
**Auction Date: December 8, 9**

The Potomack Company is a fast-growing auction house based in the Washington, DC area, founded in 2006. Their December 8 ? 9 catalogue sale will showcase, among other things, antique Oriental rugs, like this exquisite Serapi rug. From the northwest corners of Iran, Serapi rugs are known to become more beautiful with age, their durability the result of a major copper deposit in the nearby Mount Sabalan; traces of copper in the sheep?s drinking water produces high quality, resilient wool. This is a classic Serapi design, with geometric patterns and a large medallion at its center. The exhibition for the two-day sale will begin Dec. 1 in the gallery and online. www.PotomackCompany.com

**Sotheby?s (London)**
*Mick Jagger Love Letters*
**Auction Date: December 12**
**Estimate: $111,300 ? 159,000**

Handwritten love letters from Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger to his former lover Marsha Hunt will go on
the auction in London next month. Hunt is an American born singer who was the inspiration for the Stones? 1971 classic ?Brown Sugar? and bore Jagger?s first child, Karis. Sotheby?s books specialist Gabriel Heaton said the letters sent in the summer of 1969 show a ?poetic and self-aware? 25-year-old Jagger. In his letters, the rock star touches upon the unraveling of his relationship with singer Marianne Faithful, whom he was also dating at the time, and the death of Rolling Stones? guitarist Brian Jones. ?They provide a rare glimpse of Jagger that is very different from his public persona: passionate but self-contained, lyrical but with a strong sense of irony,? Heaton said. The collection also includes song lyrics and a Rolling Stones playlist. www. Sothebys.com

**Bonham?s**
*Ernest Hemingway (American, 1899 ? 1961) For Whom the Bell Tolls Signed original advanced printing
**Auction Date: December 4**
**Estimate: $25,000 – $35,000**

Founded in 1793, Bonham?s offers more sales categories in more auction rooms around the world than any other firm. From their offices in Georgetown, they provide local clients expert advice and international reach. Of the many and varied items for sale in their auction of Fine Books, Maps & Manuscripts, one highlight is a presentation copy of Hemingway?s seminal novel, For Whom the Bell Tolls, one of only 15 advanced copies of the first edition, untrimmed and without a dust jacket as issued. It is inscribed and signed by the author on the front free endpaper: ?To Harold Cadmus / with grateful appreciation / Ernest Hemingway.? At the time of publication Harold Cadmus was production chief at Scribner?s and one of the Directors.
www.Bonhams.com

**Freeman?s Auction House**
*Asher Brown Durand (American 1796-1886) Landscape*
*Oil on canvas*
**Auction Date: Dec. 2**
**Estimated Value: $50,000 ? $80,000**

Freeman?s, America?s oldest auction house, will hold its annual winter Fine American & European Paintings & Sculpture auction on December 2. Comprised of over 160 lots, with an emphasis on late 19th and early 20th century American paintings, it is an excellent assortment of period paintings, nearly all culled from private collections and estates. Featured in this auction is lot 86, a rare oil painting by the important Hudson River School artist Asher Brown Durand. This majestic work depicts a single figure seated on a large rock in an expansive landscape, and is a superb example of the Hudson River School?s emphasis on capturing the sublime. The America landscape is idealized as a utopia in which man lives in harmony with vast and glorious Nature. www.FreemansAuction.com

**Doyle New York**
*Art Deco Platinum, Diamond & Ruby Bracelet, circa 1930*
**Estimate: $12,000 – $18,000**
*Art Deco Platinum, Diamond & Emerald Bracelet, circa 1930*
**Estimate: $10,000 – $15,000 Auction Date: December 12**

Founded in 1962, Doyle New York is one of the world?s foremost auctioneers and appraisers of fine art, jewelry, furniture and more, with representatives throughout the U.S., including an office here in Georgetown. Doyle?s auction of Important Estate Jewelry will offer glittering creations for that special someone on your list. Showcased will be hundreds of lots of exquisite jewelry span- ning Victorian, Edwardian, Art Nouveau, Art Deco and Modern eras by such designers as Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels and Tiffany?s, among others. Featured are stunning rings, necklaces, brooches and bracelets set with diamonds, colored stones, jade and natural perals, as well as gold jewelry and gentlemen?s accessories. www.DoyleNewYork.com

Outdoor Kitchens
• October 15, 2012

The backyard has truly become an extension of the indoor living space. With the fall and winter months ahead, a leisurely experience can still be enjoyed within your backyard by creating a custom living and kitchen area. Whether you love to entertain family and friends, or just want a personal backyard retreat, check out these featured items.

1 A lounge area, perhaps centered near a fireplace, is a relaxing space for you and your guests. This set, “Lane Venture Southampton,” from Spring Valley Patio, located at 4300 Fordham Road N.W., has a variety of furniture and materials to choose from; wicker, teak, wrought iron, cast aluminum and stainless steel are among those collections. SpringValleyPatio.com

2 Making your own pizza is easy and fast with the Kalamazoo Artisan Fire Outdoor Pizza Oven, available on Williams-Sonoma.com. Mounted on the countertop, the oven bakes a crisp pizza in minutes; adjustable gas burners on top and bottom allow for higher temperatures than a regular oven.

3 Guests at your bar will need a place to sit; this Koko II Januswood barstool from Janus et Cie offers a comfortable option. The frame also comes in silver; visit the showroom at 3304 M Street N.W. for selections to match your bar. JanusEtCie.com

4 When it gets cooler, an infrared heater is a great option for heating up an area. Lynx offers several options for your heater, by making options available for a freestanding heater or a mounted heater. SurLaTable.com. [gallery ids="101006,134834,133596,133604" nav="thumbs"]

Vicki Johnston’s D.C.
• October 11, 2012

Vicki Johnston knows D.C. real estate – she’s worked as an agent for eight years, but prior to that she worked in advertising as an account executive with a lot of local developers. When she decided to make the switch, an old client hired her to sell new condominium developments in the Metro area.

“New” has been Johnston’s focus in a burgeoning housing market in the District that continues to expand. There were approximately $3 billion in sales in 2011 with an average selling price of half a million dollars, according to figures from RealEstate Business Intelligence, LLC.

Johnston was assigned to Velocity Condos (1025 First St. SE) from Cohen Companies/ADC in November 2007 for the initial presale opening and has remained the sales manager since. Twenty percent of units are still on the market. The building was completed in 2009 and has 200 residential with retail below. A few studios and one-bedrooms remain – a 644 South facing studio on the 10th floor goes from $294,900, while a 787 South facing one bedroom goes from $398,900. Along with Velocity, she thinks the next hot spots in D.C. will be Southwest and Southeast. In addition, she also sells homes, which can range from $500,000 to closer to $1 million.

“My clientele are almost always referrals from friends, family and business associates and range from young 20-something first-time buyers to downsizers wanting to move into D.C.,” she said.

She has seen it all in the Metro region. Her most memorable home was in Del Ray, Alexandria, Va., where “the ‘half bath’ consisted of a toilet next to the water heater in the utility area of the basement. It was in full working order and even had a bath mat in front.”

One of her quickest sales was in Prince George’s County, a friend’s house that was more than 5,000 SF. She only had to “stage,” where the realtor populates the house with furniture, and had the home sold in just four days.

Johnston hails Buffalo, N.Y. and graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in marketing and advertising. She moved to D.C. soon after graduation and has spent most of her career supporting major developers in the region. During the past nine years, she’s bought, sold and remodeled nine homes and now manages two full-time rentals in the metropolitan area, along with two vacation rentals, one in Florida and one in North Carolina.

“I love my job because it’s multifaceted. I do data analysis, I stage, I get to be involved in construction and remodeling…I have to do some savvy negotiating, space planning, run numbers and help people budget expenses, etc.,” she said. Johnston lives at 4th St. and Massachusetts Ave. NW, in Mt. Vernon Triangle and also has a home on Lake Anna, Virginia. “The best part is seeing someone really happy and feeling like they accomplished their goal and are moving on to the next adventure in their life.”

Light It Up With Tangerine
• August 29, 2012

Living room feeling a little drab? Try brightening things up with this fabulous summer color. Any room can pop with brightly colored accents. Check out these hot tangerine items below for ideas on how to add a little color into your life.
[gallery ids="100932,129797,129789,129783,129813,129776,129817,129823,129830,129805" nav="thumbs"]

Curtain CallJuly 9, 2012
• July 9, 2012

**Looking for a way to stay cool and up to date with the last fashions in home d?cor? Try these hot new trends, ranging from bold prints, bright colors, velvet material, wooden shades, and ?go-green? curtains.**

1. 2 Swing Stripe Curtains. $118.00-$178.00. Cheery pom poms dangle by the hundreds from handloom-woven draperies. www.Anthropologie.com

2. www.target.com

3. Crate & Barrel Harden Neutral Curtain Panel. $89.95- $109.00. www.CrateAndBarrel.com

4. Mushroom Silk Dupioni Grommet Window Panel from West Elm. $49.99. www.WestElm.com

5. Pottery Barn Velvet Drape. $109.00-$369.00. www.PotteryBarn.com

6. 1 Arcade shower curtain. Price: $98.00. Luxe shower curtains, vivid patterns printed on cotton duck canvas with corresponding grosgrain top and bottom borders. www.JonathanAdler.com

George Gordon, Architect
• May 3, 2012

Meet the man behind several of Georgetown’s signature structures, including Patisserie Poupon, Bo Concepts and Patagonia. John Blee sits down for a chat with George Gordon, one of the neighborhood’s most prominent architects.

When you work with a client, how do you merge with their aesthetic? Or do you try to shift their taste in your direction?

We begin by listening to the client’s needs and vision for the project and interpreting them into a built form. For example, we recently worked with a restaurateur who wanted a sign and awning but on meeting him, we observed that the interior of the restaurant used a good bit of stainless steel. We designed a metal “awning” (instead of the fabric type normally seen) with a stylized sign of his logo in stainless steel. Although pricy, the client was thrilled with the concept and is eager to have the awning installed, extending the theme of his restaurant out over the sidewalk.

In designing a house what do you enjoy the most? What do you have to struggle with other than financial constraints?

In working with a client on a house or other owner/user residential spaces (apartments, etc.) what’s most satisfying — and actually most challenging too — is conceptualizing a design that envelopes the client’s lifestyle and image. It is easy to get a quick impression of how a person lives and what seems important to them, but in working with clients, the true concerns eventually emerge. Clients who have portrayed themselves as very traditional have been revealed to really dislike clutter, and in the design process gravitate toward a cleaner, more streamlined design. Clients who at first meeting almost demanded such finishes as granite countertops have reconsidered when a warmer, more welcoming palette of materials is presented to them. Summing up, it is a challenge to know when to listen and when to prod.

Where did you study, and who has influenced you as an architect?

I went to school at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and received a rigorous, though a bit technical, education. The people who have had a great influence on me as an architect are the architects who I worked for when I started my career. All architects admire the greats. Architects such at Le Corbusier, Lutyens and Kahn. But the greatest impact was from working with very talented architects and observing how they worked their “majic.”

Do you do interiors, including placement of furniture, and if so, is that more complex in terms of client preference?

Not usually. We do measure a client’s furniture and show furniture placement on the drawings to give a sense of room size and layout. But actual placement not as often.

Is the contractor someone you carry over from job to job?

We do have a preferred group of contractors, and view recommending general contractors to clients as kin to marriage brokering. One contractor’s operation may be better suited to a client’s personality and preferred way of doing things than another. We try to make that pairing.

What’s your fastest turn-around for designing a house from scratch, from drawings to the client moving in?

Probably about a year. There are many decisions to be made and clients often want a bit of time to consider all the choices. After all, they are going to live among the decisions for a long time, so better to do the best at first pass.

Do you do kitchens, and if so, what’s the most expensive job you’ve done and what did it include?

We do kitchens, usually in conjunction with another program component, such as a family room or outdoor space. The most involved kitchens have included professional equipment, specialty appliances (such as a custom-made French range) and specific equipment for specific tasks: pizza oven, etc.

How do you work with light in your houses, how is that achieved?

We like to be involved in the design and fixture selection of lighting systems. There is a good bit of new technology, such as scene controls, that will allow the client to further customize their living experience and adapt the feel of spaces to various situations, family living, Sunday brunch, elegant dinner party. The selection of fixtures from a performance point of view and energy consumption is very important. And what makes the space come to life more dazzlingly than really nice lighting?

What is the house you’ve worked on that you are most proud of?

A waterfront house in Annapolis. It is a very quirky design, very tailored for the client and the setting. For example, there is a roof dormer in the master bedroom that exactly frames a view of the [State House] dome. The framing of views, connection to the water and the play of the spaces, interior to exterior, has produced a sequential experience that must be seen. Photographs do not adequately capture the progressing through the house from front door to pier on the water.

Name the five best buildings in the D.C. area you did not design.

The Institute for International Economics on Massachusetts Avenue, the lobby of 1999 K St., the Christian Science Center on 16th Street, the Gannett Complex in McLean, and the National Association of Realtors building on New Jersey Avenue.

Other than your own, what house in D.C. would you most like to live in?

The Marcel Breuer house in northwest D.C.

Gift Guide: His, Hers, and Ours
•

One of the most glorious messes in the world,” Andy Rooney once said, “is the mess created in the living room on Christmas day. Don’t clean it up too quickly.” Andy Rooney, or course, said it better than we can. It’s time for holiday magic to begin! So get to shopping and making memories with your friends and family with this “His, Hers and Ours” gift guide.

Tea sets from Ching Ching Cha
A tea set serves more than its basic function as a method of brewing and serving tea; it is also a beautiful accent to your home décor. A beautiful tea set can tie a room together, make it feel more inviting and add a touch of personal style. At Ching Ching Cha, it’s easy to find a set that will match anyone’s personal style, from earthy to delicate, making it a great place to find a gift.
Prices vary
chingchingcha.com

Bicycle Wine Rack
Oopsmark, a company based in Montreal that makes “tools for urban living,” has plenty of innovative and cool products such as USB necklaces and bracelets that convert into smart phone stands. Our favorite Oopsmark invention, however, is the Bicycle Wine Rack, which makes it easy to navigate D.C. streets and arrive at all those holiday parties with your gift for the host unscathed. This is a great gift for any wine lover in your life.
$29
Oopsmark.ca

Vintage Monte Carlo Poker Set
Admit it. It’s pretty cool to know how to play poker. And it’s even cooler to whip out your own personal set of chips, especially if it’s this vintage-inspired dark-wood boxed set. This is the perfect gift for a hubby with a weekly poker night or for a woman with a rambunctious streak. You can thank Lady Luck for all the “thank yous” you get for this present.
On sale for $89
RestorationHardware.com

Michael Kors Silver Bracelet Watch with Glitz
A stylish watch is always a classy gift for a man, but that doesn’t mean that this sleek watch isn’t a perfect gift for the ladies, too. The same watch that looks classic and handsome on a man makes a chunky, funky fashion statement on the wrist of any woman.
$195
MichaelKors.com

Concord Nickel Badger 3 Piece Shaving Kit
Bring all of the charm, quality and nostalgia of an old-fashioned barber shop into your home with this shaving. Crafted for a perfectly smooth shave, this is the perfect gift for any man in your life, from father to husband.
$180
GTTobacco.com

Molcajete and Pestle
Whip up some guacamole in an authentic-style molcajete from Rosa Mexicano Kitchen. This is a great gift for anyone who loves this delicious dip, but it’s also a great gift to keep for yourself! Use it to make some great guac for all your parties this holiday season.
$40
RosaMexicano.com

Warhol: Headlines Notecards
The Andy Warhol print notecards lend a taste of the iconic to everyday life. With 12 notecards and envelopes featuring details of Daily News, you can send out some not-so-ordinary thank you cards to everyone on your list this holiday season. Available at the National Gallery of Art.
$10.95
shop.nga.gov

Burberry Cashmere Touchscreen Fingertip Gloves
It’s not very classy (or convenient) to fumble around with a pair of gloves while trying to answer a text message on a windy winter day . And while cutoff gloves save you from the aforementioned scenario, they leave your fingertips out in the cold. Burberry has come up with a solution: Touchscreen Fingertip Gloves. These soft, knit cashmere gloves have textured thumb and pointer fingertips which are registered by touchscreen technology. No more fumbling and blustering! Keep it classy, ladies and gents.
$215
Us.Burberry.com

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Corporate Gift Guide
•

It’s one of the most nerve-wracking parts of the holiday season: that awkward moment when you hand your coworker another gift card, set of bath salts, “You’re #1” mug, or some other generic gift. While it’s fun and exciting to exchange small gifts around the office – it’s part of the holiday spirit to give to those you spend your time with, after all – sometimes it’s impossible to think of thoughtful gifts that aren’t too personal. Luckily, Georgetown stores are chock full of perfect gifts that will make you the Secret Santa everyone wanted to get. [gallery ids="100399,113185,113167,113193,113157,113201,113147,113209,113137,113177" nav="thumbs"]

Hugh and Simon Jacobsen, Architects
•

Few Washingtonians need introduction to Jacobsen Architecture, the Georgetown firm behind some of the snazziest edifices in Washington and the world, including the Smithsonian’s Renwick Gallery, the U.S. embassies in Paris and Moscow and several external additions to a little building called the U.S. Capitol. John Blee sits down to chat with father-son architecture aces Hugh and Simon Jacobsen.

When you work with a client, do you merge with their aesthetic, or do you try to shift their taste in your direction?

Our approach is that a client is not just another client or project, but rather an individual with a very unique set of circumstances, tastes, experiences, fears and enthusiasms who, out of all the architects in the world, has come to us to design their house and, hopefully forever, change their lives for the better. We listen with a kind of architectural stethoscope for the blatant design instruction and for the subtle murmur of something that they can neither explain nor describe.

In designing a house what do you enjoy the most, and what do you have to struggle with, other than financial constraints?

There is no greater satisfaction for architects and designers that when the initial presentation is complete, the client is no longer sitting in their chair but jumping up and down shaking your hand and trying to kiss you.

The struggle for us comes in the form of trying to get the project past the oceans architectural review boards in the international and national jurisdictions that we work in. We like to say “it is like giving birth to a barbed wire fence.”

Where did you study, and who has influenced you as an architect?

Hugh: Yale, much influenced by Lou Kahn.
Simon: The Chicago School of Architecture-UIC, influenced by Richard Meier and many deconstructionists and theorists of the Chicago School.

What is the easiest thing about working with clients, and what is the most difficult?

The easiest thing, of course, is being permitted to do what we do best, which is to streamline the project on time and on budget. The hard part comes when the client makes changes during construction, for whatever reason. We have very innovative and unique details and methods that are not intuitive at first sight to the builder. Much planning goes into the construction preparation and for it to change can be frustrating and expensive for everyone.

Do you do interiors, including placement of furniture? If so, is that more complex in terms of client preference?

We are one of the few firms in the world where the design of the building starts with the furniture (both ours and the owners’), in addition to art and light. Therefore, our completed building is a total envelope of a congruent aesthetic of a single company, rather than other firms, who seem to lock arms in an uncomfortable collaboration of people trying fruitlessly to coordinate the thousands of parts and hopefully getting them to fit together like ill-fitting puzzle pieces. In our work, the interiors and furniture is part of the architecture, and it doesn’t look as if someone stopped by at the last minute and lobbed in a bunch of stuff, hoping that it would work.

Is the contractor someone you carry over from job to job?

We are currently working in the Cayman Islands, California, Colorado, Maine, Nantucket, Washington, Melbourne (Australia), Florida, etc. We prefer to always work with the same builders when possible, for we go through a kind of teaching and explanation period on every new project and new builder. However, many of our projects are in “one-shot” locations, and in those places we are unable to use a preferred builder.

What’s the fastest turn around, in designing from scratch with a house, from drawings to the client moving in?

One year, and we still can’t believe it. The client didn’t make any changes!

Do you do kitchens, and if so, what’s the most expensive job you’ve done and what did it include?

Well, we have done million-dollar kitchens and we have done ten thousand-dollar kitchens. Our expertise is not building expensive kitchens, but really good ones. Yes, the $1 million kitchens do pop up, but we would rather spend that money on the roof or the pool — or just put the pool on the roof.

Light is what your firm is known for in his houses, how is that achieved?

To most people who know the work, it may appear that buildings just have a great deal of glass. Although this is key, it is only a fourth of the issue. We bring light inside, then it is prismed on reflective plains of the interior. The houses are positioned so that the sun doesn’t overpower the spaces, damaging art and fabrics, and we use walls of books, art and furniture to introduce color where the light then dances off all of the surfaces.

What is the house you’ve worked on that you are most proud of?

The ones we have underway now.

Name the five best buildings in the D.C. area you did not design.

The British Embassy, the East Wing of the National Gallery of Art, Society of Cincinnati, The Metropolitan Club, The US Capitol.

Other than your own houses, what house in D.C. would you most like to live in?

Hugh: Evermay.
Simon: The Egyptian Embassy off Sheridan Circle.

Did you design your own home, and if you did, what are you happiest with about it?

Hugh: That it has survived 40 years of children, mumps, measles, holidays, teenagers, illness, prosperity and the occasional visiting Republican.
Simon: That people walk by and look in the windows. I think it is also on a local tour map, where it is listed as “some weird guy’s all-white house.” [gallery ids="99167,103004" nav="thumbs"]